If this list looks just a tad familiar, it should! A majority of these items were on my 31 Things list, some stayed on the list because they'll probably always be on my list and others stayed to give me another chance to cross them off the list!
1. Travel to a country I've never been to before.
2. Run (or walk) a half-marathon. Yup, it has been awhile since I've done a half-marathon so I guess it's time to try again.
3. Buy a new laptop.
4. Take a photography class.
5. Be a better correspondent (i.e. keep in better touch with my friends).
6. Try out a new recipe.
7. Start consistently doing a weight-training or strength-training program, either with a trainer or on my own.
8. Organize all my flotsam and jetsam - either to be scrapbooked or to be disposed of.
9. Visit the Olympic Sculpture Park.
10. Make it through a hot yoga class doing all the postures.
11. Travel to one new city in the US.
12. Write a chapter for my novel (which I still haven't figured out what it is about).
13. Start seriously looking at buying a house/townhome/condo.
14. Go to an athletic shoe store where they look at how you walk and recommend a type/style of shoe.
15. Run (emphasis on run) a 5K.
16. Attend a dance class (hip-hop, salsa or styling). I've been meaning to do this for awhile but haven't.
17. Take a wine-tasting class.
18. Go to an acupuncturist.
19. Go to an outdoor movie.
20. Go kayaking.
21. Go to a Husky game and go to a Sounders game.
22. Treat myself to a facial.
23. Take a couple of weekend trips (Oregon coast, Vancouver B.C., etc.)
24. Get a manicure every couple of months.
25. Organize my file cabinet. It was organized once upon a time, but since then I've gotten behind and I need to catch back up.
26. Go to trivia night. I used to do this fairly regularly but then life got in the way! Let's see if I can start up the tradition again this year.
27. Get the most out of my annual Walt Disney World pass. That's right folks, I got me an annual Disney pass this year.
28. Buy a new camera. This really has to happen now as I broke my camera in Greece!!
29. Set up an IRA.
30. Go for a hot air balloon ride.
31. Go to the podiatrist.
32. And one I'll keep to myself for now.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Final 31 Things Update
First off, Greece was great! Trip report & pictures to come in the next few weeks. I realize I am late with my final recap of my 31 Things, but better late than never!
To say this last year was a bit challenging may be somewhat of an understatement. It was also exciting as I did my first cruise, spent 6 weeks in Germany, and got a couple more triathlons under my belt. I didn't make as big of a dent in this list as I thought. Oh well - that's what this year is for!!
1. Travel to a country I've never been to before. Done!! Slovakia, Hungary
2. Make it back to Houston a couple of times. Done!!
3. Improve my triathlon time. Done!!
4. Take a photography class.
5. Take at least one picture a week (I would say more frequently, but knowing me one picture a week could be pushing it some weeks!).
6. Try out a new recipe (no time frame associated with this one - I would be happy to do it once!).
7. Back up my pictures on CDs. If I'm really ambitious catalogue and organize! Done!!
8. Organize all my flotsam and jetsam - either to be scrapbooked or to be disposed of.
9. Visit the Olympic Sculpture Park.
10. Bring my lunch to work (again no time frame associated with the one as I would be happy if I did it once!). Done!!
11. Travel to one new city in the US. Done!! Maui, Hawaii
12. Write a chapter for my novel (which I still haven't figured out what it is about).
13. Attend a theatrical event (musical, play, ballet, etc.) Done!!
14. Eat at several restaurants I've been meaning to - Greenlake Bar & Grill, Z Tejas, Boka and Salish to name a few. Done!!
15. Play bingo in Houston. Done!!
16. Attend a dance class (hip-hop, salsa or styling). I've been meaning to do this for awhile but haven't.
17. Take a wine-tasting class.
18. Attend either an Anti-freeze or Space City Mixer event (or something similar).
19. Go to an outdoor movie.
20. Go kayaking.
21. Frame several pictures I've been meaning to frame. Done!!
22. Set aside some money and invest in the stock market. Done!!
23. Take a couple of weekend trips (Oregon coast, Vancouver B.C., etc.) Done!! Cannon Beach
24. Take a cooking class. Done!!
25. Organize my file cabinet. It was organized once upon a time, but since then I've gotten behind and I need to catch back up.
26. Finish up my 2005 photobook. Done!!
27. Take a yoga class. (Technically this one is already done since I attended one on 4/20, but since I planned to put it on the list before I took the class I'm leaving it on. Plus this way it will motivate me to take another!) Done!! I am now a hot yoga queen! Well, okay that is an exaggeration, but I am going fairly regularly
28. Buy a new camera.
29. Set up an IRA.
30. Go for a hot air balloon ride.
31. And one I'll keep to myself for now. Done!! Well, for the most part. I did accomplish several of the items on the list.
And that wraps up my 31 Things, stay tuned for 32 Things!
To say this last year was a bit challenging may be somewhat of an understatement. It was also exciting as I did my first cruise, spent 6 weeks in Germany, and got a couple more triathlons under my belt. I didn't make as big of a dent in this list as I thought. Oh well - that's what this year is for!!
1. Travel to a country I've never been to before. Done!! Slovakia, Hungary
2. Make it back to Houston a couple of times. Done!!
3. Improve my triathlon time. Done!!
4. Take a photography class.
5. Take at least one picture a week (I would say more frequently, but knowing me one picture a week could be pushing it some weeks!).
6. Try out a new recipe (no time frame associated with this one - I would be happy to do it once!).
7. Back up my pictures on CDs. If I'm really ambitious catalogue and organize! Done!!
8. Organize all my flotsam and jetsam - either to be scrapbooked or to be disposed of.
9. Visit the Olympic Sculpture Park.
10. Bring my lunch to work (again no time frame associated with the one as I would be happy if I did it once!). Done!!
11. Travel to one new city in the US. Done!! Maui, Hawaii
12. Write a chapter for my novel (which I still haven't figured out what it is about).
13. Attend a theatrical event (musical, play, ballet, etc.) Done!!
14. Eat at several restaurants I've been meaning to - Greenlake Bar & Grill, Z Tejas, Boka and Salish to name a few. Done!!
15. Play bingo in Houston. Done!!
16. Attend a dance class (hip-hop, salsa or styling). I've been meaning to do this for awhile but haven't.
17. Take a wine-tasting class.
18. Attend either an Anti-freeze or Space City Mixer event (or something similar).
19. Go to an outdoor movie.
20. Go kayaking.
21. Frame several pictures I've been meaning to frame. Done!!
22. Set aside some money and invest in the stock market. Done!!
23. Take a couple of weekend trips (Oregon coast, Vancouver B.C., etc.) Done!! Cannon Beach
24. Take a cooking class. Done!!
25. Organize my file cabinet. It was organized once upon a time, but since then I've gotten behind and I need to catch back up.
26. Finish up my 2005 photobook. Done!!
27. Take a yoga class. (Technically this one is already done since I attended one on 4/20, but since I planned to put it on the list before I took the class I'm leaving it on. Plus this way it will motivate me to take another!) Done!! I am now a hot yoga queen! Well, okay that is an exaggeration, but I am going fairly regularly
28. Buy a new camera.
29. Set up an IRA.
30. Go for a hot air balloon ride.
31. And one I'll keep to myself for now. Done!! Well, for the most part. I did accomplish several of the items on the list.
And that wraps up my 31 Things, stay tuned for 32 Things!
Monday, May 11, 2009
And off we go!
After weeks of counting down, it was finally time to leave for Disneyworld! Because it was a short trip, I decided to drag my brother with me again. Jana decided it was going to be too long between visits to Disneyworld and also decided to fly down for the weekend along with Ben, her boyfriend.
After some not so good bus magic (it took us almost an hour to get there!) we met up with Jana & Ben at Animal Kingdom. Because it was so stinking hot we went on the Kali River Rapid ride and boy did I get wet!! It took me awhile to finally dry out. After a few more rides and lunch, we left for Epcot where John & I saved the world, Kim Possible style. It is a new interactive game, which would have been a lot more fun if it hadn't been so hot! I was also finally brave enough to try Mission Space, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be (granted we rode the "sissy" version) but I was still a little nauseous afterwards.
Saturday was early extra magic hours at Hollywood so John & I woke up early and headed over with the express purpose to do the new Toy Story ride! We arrived just a little after it opened and already there was a 30 minute wait! We went ahead and stood in line - fortunately the line moved along. We rode a couple more rides before heading back to the hotel so I could check in for the race.
We weren't staying at the race site, but at a hotel within walking distance to the race site. I asked the concierge how to walk there and she looked at me and told me it was too far to walk, I should either take the bus or the boat. Interesting - so how was I going to get to the race tomorrow morning? I took the boat over to the race site and checked in. I picked up my bike and situated myself in the transition area, looking around for the bike and run starts to orient myself. While I was there, I asked about transportation from my hotel on race day and was told no transportation, you could walk. Okay, it can't be that bad, right? So I walked back to the hotel and it was about a 20 minute stroll. Piece of cake!
I picked John up at the hotel and we headed over to Magic Kingdom!!! After lunch and a few rides, we met up with Jana & Ben. After many more rides, Jana & Ben went off to dinner while John & I headed off to our hotel as I needed sleep! But before leaving, we had to go see Mickey & Minnie!
I did not sleep too well, as I was nervous about oversleeping. Finally I got up and got ready. Down in the lobby there were a number of athletes. Stepping outside, there were even more waiting for a bus! All that worrying and they did have a bus from the hotel to the race site. I set up my transition area and made my way down to the beach.
After some not so good bus magic (it took us almost an hour to get there!) we met up with Jana & Ben at Animal Kingdom. Because it was so stinking hot we went on the Kali River Rapid ride and boy did I get wet!! It took me awhile to finally dry out. After a few more rides and lunch, we left for Epcot where John & I saved the world, Kim Possible style. It is a new interactive game, which would have been a lot more fun if it hadn't been so hot! I was also finally brave enough to try Mission Space, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be (granted we rode the "sissy" version) but I was still a little nauseous afterwards.
Saturday was early extra magic hours at Hollywood so John & I woke up early and headed over with the express purpose to do the new Toy Story ride! We arrived just a little after it opened and already there was a 30 minute wait! We went ahead and stood in line - fortunately the line moved along. We rode a couple more rides before heading back to the hotel so I could check in for the race.
We weren't staying at the race site, but at a hotel within walking distance to the race site. I asked the concierge how to walk there and she looked at me and told me it was too far to walk, I should either take the bus or the boat. Interesting - so how was I going to get to the race tomorrow morning? I took the boat over to the race site and checked in. I picked up my bike and situated myself in the transition area, looking around for the bike and run starts to orient myself. While I was there, I asked about transportation from my hotel on race day and was told no transportation, you could walk. Okay, it can't be that bad, right? So I walked back to the hotel and it was about a 20 minute stroll. Piece of cake!
I picked John up at the hotel and we headed over to Magic Kingdom!!! After lunch and a few rides, we met up with Jana & Ben. After many more rides, Jana & Ben went off to dinner while John & I headed off to our hotel as I needed sleep! But before leaving, we had to go see Mickey & Minnie!
I did not sleep too well, as I was nervous about oversleeping. Finally I got up and got ready. Down in the lobby there were a number of athletes. Stepping outside, there were even more waiting for a bus! All that worrying and they did have a bus from the hotel to the race site. I set up my transition area and made my way down to the beach.
As I stood on the beach, watching the waves of women go before me, I had a sense of peace, sprinkled with trepidation. And a bit of wonderment, realizing this was my sixth triathlon!
Finally it was my wave! I went down to the water's edge with the rest of my light blue caps and tested the water - it was warm!! Nice! And soon we were off. I had a fairly even pace going and just kept moving along along. The walk back from the swim was one of the longest I can remember! I threw on my shirt and race number, hoisted my bike off the rack and I was off!! I passed a number of people on the bike, which lifted my spirits a bit! I'm not super competitive, but it helped me realize that while people will pass me on the swim & the run (and the bike too) I was passing people on the bike! The bike course was nice - somewhat flat, with a few rolling hills. I made it back and was off on the run! By this time it was getting hot. I ran until there weren't any more spectators cheering and slowed down to a walk. After the first water stop, I got into my usual pattern of running 10 cones, walking 5 (sometimes running 20 cones but still walking 5). And then I was at the last quarter mile - I ran, using all the cheers from the people lining the course to keep me going. It was a good race!
I never was able to meet up with Jana & Ben after I finished, it was a bit of a madhouse!! I had to dash back up to the hotel to take a shower before check-out. But they did say they enjoyed cheering on other participants and experiencing the atmosphere.
After checking out of the hotel, John & I headed over to Hollywood for a last little bit of magic before going home. I was fairly spent at that point and we didn't end up doing much of anything, except watching the High School Musical pep rally and eating lunch. We met up with Jana & Ben one last time before saying our goodbyes and heading to the airport.
And now? I'm unpacking my suitcase, only to pack it again! I leave for Greece on Wednesday!
Orlando Triathlon
Woohoo!! I did it!! I finished in 2 hours and 10 minutes, which is within 2 minutes of my best time so I was happy with that. More to come later...
Monday, May 04, 2009
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Training - Week 9
I feel like I have been saying this a lot over the past couple of weeks, but here I go again - it was a fairly light training week. No swimming, per the doctor's orders. A couple of hot yoga classes, the elliptical and a brick. I might squeeze in a few more workouts before leaving on Thursday. Did I train enough? Nope - but with strep throat, bronchitis, and then an ear infection there wasn't much I could do about it. So what if my time isn't the best? I will finish and I will have fun racing, which is what counts! All this is assuming I get the green light from the doctor (I find out tomorrow).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)